In a small, unassuming church near Cedar Rapids, GOP contender Michele Bachmann shared the faith testimony of her and husband Marcus Bachmann, noting the influence of evangelical theologian Francis Schaeffer on their views of science and abortion.

“One thing that Dr. Schaeffer said is that [God is] not just the God of theology. He’s not just the God of the Bible,” Bachmann said. “Since he is the Creator God, he’s the father of biology, sociology, of political science, of you name the subject. … And that altered our way of thinking, that God had something to say about our career.”

Schaeffer, who died in 1984, is cited by historians as being a leading influence of the Christian right in the United States. The Minnesota congresswoman told the New Life Community Church congregation that Schaeffer also helped convince her that pro-life issues are of the utmost importance:

“Francis Schaeffer also said that life is the watershed issue of our time, and how we come down on how we view human life will impact all other issues,” she said. “And so Marcus and I decided we didn’t want to be pro-life only, just as speaking… We wanted to live a life of being about pro-life.”

Bachmann said that shortly after that realization, her and her husband began counseling and praying with single mothers, even driving them to adoption centers as an alternative to abortion.

“This is not to condemn any woman who here has ever had an abortion or participated in one,” she said. “Because God is there also with grace and mercy in that situation, but to say that he is the life-giving only God who has answers in the midst of our trying times.”

Brian Hagerman, a New Life pastor, commented on the packed-house Sunday morning attendance for Bachmann’s talk. “Who would have thought?” he joked from the pulpit.

Hagerman said a Bachmann staffer who attends Walnut Creek Community Church in Des Moines called Hagerman and asked if the congresswoman could speak. He said the church normally has attendees share testimonies, and wanted to hear about Bachmann’s faith and how it might impact her presidency if elected. Bachmann is the only candidate so far to visit the church.

Finishing her speech, Bachmann offered up a prayer for Iowa, Washington’s debt talks and the president:

“Oh Father God, I thank you that we are privileged to be here this morning in Iowa, one of the most beautiful states I’ve ever been privileged to be in.”

Then, the sky outside thundered, and raindrops pounded on the roof.

“Lord, we hear you, Father, in the thunder,” she continued, eyes closed tightly. “We lift up our president to you today. We lift up the Supreme Court. We lift up the senators. We lift up the house members, Lord, as they grapple with this issue of how they deal with the finances for our nation.”